Customers obtain customized
textile materials by selecting style, shape, size, pattern and color for an undyed
textile product. Based on a selection made by the customer, the
textile product is transformed by a
dyeing operation performed on a
single item (or multiple items selected to be dyed the same) to yield a product, such as a shirt, pants, or jacket, which has a color and pattern of his or her own choosing, in the size and style he or she desires. The process can be performed in a retail setting using a dye apparatus which allows the process to be viewed by the customer. Preferably, the textile material is constructed from yarns which include cationic cellulosic
fiber alone or in combination with natural or synthetic fibers, and using anionic dyes, such as a
fiber reactive dye, such that the dye is exhausted during the process and
effluent from the dye
machine is
environmentally friendly without excess dye, salts, and alkalis. To enhance the educational and entertainment experience of the customer, the
dyeing operation can be performed in a transparent tank or water kettle in the retail outlet so that the customer can view, for example, the garment as it is being dyed to the customer's specifications.